Okay, so it's another boot CD with the John Peel sessions on (from the radio program 'top gear', broadcast dates 4 february and 12 may respectively - t.t.)! But don't let that put you off, because these are the best sound quality of these tracks I have yet heard. Even if they aren't the original BBC tapes and they do include Mr. Peel's chatter over a couple of the songs they are still excellent. What also makes this CD worth looking for is the inclusion of the 'Electricity' track from the January session. This is often missing from the tapes circulating and wasn't on the other boot CDs. I have only heard a poor quality version of it before, but the version here is much better, although there is more 'hiss' and is obviously not from the same source as the rest of the tracks. The other surprise here is that the songs from the May session include the full version of 'Trust Us' - the full 7 minutes 25 seconds - absolutely awesome, worth getting just for this!

The Cannes Beach tracks obviously come from a different source to the video that circulates, as there is a French announcer talking over the intro to 'Sure 'Nuff 'n' Yes I Do'. This is made up for by the track lasting slightly longer than the video version before fading and cutting. Again the quality is pretty good.

The three tracks from Kidderminster (a concert at 'frank freeman's dancing club', not on 12, but 19 may - t.t.) are great to have on CD although the quality is more muffled and is not as good in comparison to the other tracks. Still it's good to have these '68 vintage Magic Band recordings altogether - to many of us older fans this Magic Band was indeed the most 'magical'.

  back full of heads featuring the captain at the cannes film festival

The final track on the CD claims to be from the Amougies Festival in 1969 (which town is situated in belgium, by the way, but bootleggers often don't mind knowledge - t.t.). Unfortunately, this is total bollocks! I don't think 'Sun Zoom Spark' was even written, let alone played in 1969. It is, however, one of the many early workouts of 'Sun Zoom Spark' from the series of '71/'72 out-takes tapes. It features the Cap playing harmonica and experimenting with different lyrics while Zoot Horn accompanies him on acoustic(?) guitar. Again, nice sound quality and well worth a listen, all seven minutes of it.

The packaging is well done with a 1973 live picture of Don on the front of the insert. Inside there is a short interview from 1968 (not sure of the source of this) and a photograph that I've not seen before of the 1968 band standing around some tulips. Their headgear suggests this was taken the same time as the Rome Festival show. The back of the insert shows Don in his 'chinese lampshade' hat from the 'Clear Spot' period. The rear of the jewel case has eight excellent close-up shots of Don taken from the Cannes Beach video.

The CD itself is anonymous with only the title printed on the gold surface of the disc making look like an ordinary CDR. There is no identification on the cover either except for a picture of a baby wearing headphones and the word 'HEAD' in capital letters.

This is one stonkingly good CD. Get it if you can!

Finally...: a big 'THANK YOU' to whoever put it together.

[291298]

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